The Berkshire Adult Autism Support Service offers a range of workshops and courses for autistic adults to help them increase their understanding of aspects of autism and increase their confidence navigating daily life and social situations.
These courses and workshops, which are free of charge, are open to autistic adults who are registered as patients with a GP surgery in Berkshire and are not receiving support from specialist NHS services, such as mental health and learning disability teams.
For more information about any of these workshops and courses and to request free places, email adult.support@autismberkshire.org.uk or call 01189 594 594 and leave a voicemail – please include a daytime telephone member in your message so that our advisers can contact you.
The full range of online workshops and courses available is as follows:
Autism Workshops for Adults
This programme of evidence-based workshops, developed by Autism Berkshire, provides information and practical tips and strategies to help autistic adults. There will be a presentation, followed by time to ask questions, discuss the topics covered and share ideas and experiences.
We recommend that people attend the full set of four workshops to get the most benefit from them, as the topics they cover complement each other.
Sensory Differences: This interactive online workshop looks at the sensory processing differences that are thought to affect at least 80% of autistic people and strengths and challenges that they may experience as a result. It includes tips and strategies that autistic people can use in daily life and social situations.
Forthcoming workshops:
- To be advised.
Planning & Organising: This online workshop covers executive functioning – thinking through what we need to do, carrying out the task and remaining in control of our emotions, even if things change. It looks at ways to achieve better executive functioning, including using mind maps, decision trees and critical thinking, along with problem-solving, plus tips on ways to create calm and manage emotions.
Forthcoming workshops:
- To be advised.
Anxiety & Autism: This online workshop provides an introduction to anxiety, which is thought to affect about 40% of autistic people, some of the things that can trigger anxiety and the problems that it can cause, including meltdowns, shutdowns and burnout. It explores ways to recognise signs of anxiety, cope with it and manage emotions, plus therapies that can help some autistic people who are affected by anxiety.
Forthcoming workshops:
- Tuesday, May 14, noon to 2pm.
Understanding Other People: This online interactive workshop explores relationships, the different ways in which individuals relate to other people, and the visual, verbal and hidden clues (theory of mind) as to how someone may be feeling. It also looks interactions in a range of situations, including at home, at work, when socialising and in intimate relationships, with tips on things to think about in each case.
Forthcoming workshops:
- Tuesday, May 21, noon to 2pm.
Chop & Chat course
This free course is made up of eight friendly weekly classes, focused around preparing, cooking and sharing a simple and healthy meal, and talking about various issues that can affect autistic adults, including conversation skills – starting, maintaining and joining a conversation, making friends and socialising.
The aim is to develop life skills, boost self-esteem and confidence, and improve participants’ education, training and employment prospects.
Forthcoming courses: The next course will take place in autumn 2024. Please let us know if you are interested in taking part.
Click here to complete our online form to register an interest in taking part in a Chop & Chat course.
Please note that priority for places will be given to people who have not previously attended a Chop & Chat course, or the Independent Living or SocialEyes courses previously run by Autism Berkshire.
